Martyred Pakistani peacekeeper Naik Naeem Raza awarded UN medal

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – UN Secretary General António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres awarded a UN medal to Pakistani Peacekeeper Naik Naeem Raza who embraced martyrdom in Democratic Republic Congo during an ambush on UN convoy in Jan 2018. According to a press release issued by the ISPR, the medal is awarded to blue helmets for their supreme sacrifice in line of duty. So far 156 Pakistan Peacekeepers have laid their lives for global peace and stability. Speaking after the ceremony, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhisaid the award of the Dag Hammarskjold medal to our hero is recognition by the UN Secretary General of the sacrifice, dedication and professionalism of Pakistan's peacekeepers. She added their sacrifices are testimony to Pakistan's commitment to upholding international peace and security. During the ceremony 119 brave individuals were honoured for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty to uphold international peace and security in 2018 and early 2019. The awardees included military and police personnel, international civil servants, and UN staff from 38 countries serving in 12 different UN Peacekeeping Operations around the world. Pakistan has a proud tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping, and has consistently been ranked among the world's top troop contributors. The country has contributed over 200,000 troops to 46 UN peacekeeping mission over the last six decades.

Pakistan reaffirms commitment to UN Peacekeeping Operations

On May 10, Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in conflict zones around the world. Speaking in the UN Security Council’s open debate on training and capacity building for United Nations peacekeeping missions, Pakistani Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi underscored the need for the UN to undertake political processes along with its peacekeeping efforts to attain durable peace and stability. She said Pakistan is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping, with over five thousand troops serving in missions in hotspots around the world. Pakistan, she said, is also host to one of the earliest peacekeeping missions, namely the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which monitors the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

Pakistan achieves goal of female deployment in UN Peacekeeping Missions

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said on Tuesday that Pakistan is proud to have achieved the goal of deployment of 15 per cent female staff officers in UN Peacekeeping Missions, thereby meeting the benchmark set by the UN. He expressed these views in his tweet today. “Pakistan is proud to have achieved the goal of deployment of 15 percent female staff officers in UN Peacekeeping Missions, thereby meeting the benchmark set by the UN” FO spokesperson tweeted.

Pakistan is proud to have achieved the goal of deployment of 15 percent female staff officers in UN Peacekeeping Missions, thereby meeting the benchmark set by the UN

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) February 12, 2019

Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi said that the Islamabad has enhanced the participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations. Speaking at the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Lodhi, said that, “Pakistan is proud to have achieved the goal of deployment of 15 per cent female staff officers in its missions”. Lodhi was referring to the fact that in less than 18 months, Pakistan has gone from zero participation of female military staff officers in peacekeeping operations to the UN prescribed benchmark of 15 per cent, the statement added. Based on the Security Council’s call in 2015 to double its female deployment in the uniform component, the UN’s Office of Military Affairs set the target of deploying 15 per cent female military and staff officers in peacekeeping missions by December 2018. The Pakistani envoy further informed the UN Committee that Pakistan was deploying an engagement team consisting of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2019.